Selectively positionable diaper assembly

ABSTRACT

Improved diaper assembly comprising a main pad assembly having an outer backing sheet, and an inner sheet with an absorbent material therebetween, and a selectively positionable auxiliary pad assembly movably secured to, or retained by, the main pad assembly. The auxiliary pad is selectively positionable depending on the age, activity or sex of the infant, e.g., between an active/day position and a nap or night/sleeping position, regardless of the child&#39;&#39;s sex, between a boy position and a girl position regardless of activity, and between an older and younger infant position regardless of sex. The selectively positionable pad results in placing the absorbent material at the point of need, while permitting reduction in the amount of absorbent material in the main pad. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improved fluid retention.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE DIAPER ASSEMBLY Glenn N.Taylor, Cary, 11].

[73] Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 495,027

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 128/287; 128/284; 128/290 R [51] Int. Cl. A16F 13/16; A41B13/02 [58] Field of Search 128/288, 287, 284, 290 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,783 6/1933 Meyer128/290 H 2,468,445 4/1949 Hurst 128/290 R 2,494,933 l/195O Donahue128/284 2,516,331 7/1950 Miles 128/287 2,538,758 1/1951 Bricmont 128/2872,837,462 6/1958 Morin i 128/290 R 3,563,242 2/1971 Hedstrom 128/290 X3,592,194 7/1971 Duncan 128/287 3,613,686 10/1971 De Woskin 128/2883,731,688 5/1973 Litt 128/287 Primary ExaminerAldrich F. MedberyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacques M. Dulin, Esq.;

Powell L. Sprunger, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT lmproved diaper assembly comprising a main pad assemblyhaving an outer backing sheet, and an inner sheet with an absorbentmaterial therebetween, and a selectively positionable auxiliary padassembly movably secured to, or retained by, the main pad assembly. Theauxiliary pad is selectively positionable depending on the age, activityor sex of the infant, e.g., between an active/day position and a nap ornight/- sleeping position, regardless of the childs sex, between a boyposition and a girl position regardless of activity, and between anolder and younger infant position regardless of sex. The selectivelypositionable pad results in placing the absorbent material at the pointof need, while permitting reduction in the amount of absorbent materialin the main pad. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overallimproved fluid retention.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec .16,1975 sheetlofz 3,926,189

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,926,189

SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE DIAPER ASSEMBLY FIELD This application relatesto improved diaper assemblies, particularly diapers that permitselective positioning of absorbent material to the point of needdepending on the activity and/or sex of the infant.

BACKGROUND Currently available diaper constructions generally have asingle pad area extending from the crotch area to the waist of aninfant. These diapers may be contoured for better fit in the crotch areaaround the legs. However, this results in the disadvantage of removingabsorbent pad from the point of greatest need. As a result, padding inthat area may wad because of low strength under conditions of excesswetness. Also, hav ing a large volume of absorbent pad in the waist areameans that the wet area of the pad is extended upward toward the waist.

There is therefore a substantial need for a universal diaper that issimple to manufacture, and yet is completely adaptable to sex and/oractivity of the infant. There is also a need for a diaper that providesadditional absorbent padding at the point of need without the discomfortor malfit of a non-contoured diaper.

THE INVENTION Objects It is among the objects of this invention toprovide a universal diaper with means for providing selectively addedabsorbent capacity in relation to the age, sex

.and/or activity of the infant.

It is another object to provide an improved diaper assembly with anauxiliary absorbent pad selectively positionable to the point of need.

It is another object to provide an improved diaper assembly having amain pad, and an auxiliary pad that is selectively positionable to thepoint of need without the disadvantages of prior constructions.

Still further objects will be evident from the description whichfollows.

FIGURES The description below has reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the diapers of thisinvention in a folded, as received condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1 showing theauxiliary pad in a first (boy/sleep-nap) position, and a second positionin phantom (girl/day);

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 2 in use; and FIG. 4is a perspective view of an embodiment of a diaper of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY The improved diaper assemblies of this invention comprise a mainpad assembly having an outer backing sheet, and an inner top sheethaving an absorbent material disposed therebetween, and a selectivelypositionable auxiliary pad assembly movably secured to, or retained by,the main pad assembly. Depending on the age, sex and/or activity of theinfant, the auxiliary pad assembly may be selectively positioned betweena first, rear position and a second, front position.

The auxiliary pad results in reducing the amount of absorbent materialin the main pad while placing the absorbent material at the point ofneed. This permits a better fit in the main pad with overall improvedfluid retention capacity and no increase in cost.

The auxiliary pad assembly may be positioned in the front for a boy, fordaytime activity of a young infant regardless of sex, or for sleeping ornapping regardless of the age or sex of the infant (where the infantsleeps on its stomach). Conversely, the pad may be positioned in therear for a girl, or for daytime activity of an older infant regardlessof sex. For certain conditions of incontinency or diarrhea the pad maybe positioned as needed.

The auxiliary pad may be movably secured as by adhesive to, or retainedby, the main pad. The main pad may be of any desired configuration,contoured or non-contoured, rectangular, triangular, box pleat-type, andthe like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description havingparticular reference to the drawings is by way of example and not by wayof limitation of the principles of the inventions of this application.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, diaper assembly 1, comprises a main padassembly 2, and an auxiliary pad assembly 3. The diaper may be generallyrectangular, with a front (F) to back (B) long axis as shown best inFIG. 2, or any other convenient shape such as con toured, triangularpolygonal or having one or more arcuate margins. The diaper may befolded at generally right angles to the long axis for packaging, storingor shipping as best seen in FIG. .1. The diaper embodiment of FIGS. 1-3is shown with side margin box pleats 4,5 formed by a Z-shaped fold alonglines 6,7 and 8,9 respectively spaced inwardly from, and generallyparallel to side margins 10,11.

The box pleats may be secured in one or more places, preferably adjacentthe transverse fold axis TT, or in the crotch region of the diaper. FIG.2 shows adhesive areas 12,13 disposed between fold lines 6,7 and 8,9respectively to secure the pleat in the crotch area. This effectivelycontours the diaper, permitting good fit in the crotch area, yet theunsecured box pleat ends 14,15,16,17 can be spread to insure fit aroundthe circumference of the infants waist. This is best shown in FIG. 3.Tape strips 18,19 are adhesive faced, and covered by release sheets20,21. The release sheets are removed and the strips secured to theouter face 22 of the outer backing sheet 23.

The main pad assembly comprises an outer backing sheet 23 of a generallywater repellant or impervious material, such as plastic, an absorbentpad material 24, and an inner fluid pervious sheet 25. The absorbent padmaterial may be any suitable material, such as pulverized wood pulp,absorbent cellulose wadding, synthetic or natural, woven, nonwoven,felted or intertangled fibers, non-fibrous (such as open or closedcellular foam or sponge material, continuous filament or chopped fibers,or the like. The inner and outer sheets 25,23 may be the same ordifferent, and there may be additional intermediate or external sheets.Preferably, the innermost sheet is a woven or nonwoven filamentous sheetthat has good fluid permeability properties yet has a smooth, soft feelor hand to protect the infants skin. The inner sheet may be treated withmedicaments, chemical agents, deodorants, emollients, powders (e.g.,baby powder), surfactants, wetting agents, salves, perfumes,bactericides, germicides, and the like,'as desired. The outer backingsheet may be any thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic, such as apolyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene), a polystyrene, a polyvinylplastic, such as polyvinylchloride, and the like, or may be any otherfluid impervious material. Mixed polymers, laminates, coand ter-polymersmay also be used. This sheet may be made by a continuous extrusion,casting, or other operation, and is preferably a homogenous web.

The auxiliary pad 3 comprises generally an absorbent pad 26 of the sameor similar characteristics as pad 24 in the main assembly 2. One or bothof these pads may be impregnated, saturated or loaded with deodorants,medicaments and the like as above described with respect to the innersheet 25. The absorbent pad 26, in one embodiment may be disposed withina fluid permeable envelope 27 which is sealed at each end 28,29. As bestshown in FIG. 2 comer areas 30,31 of the auxiliary pad assembly 3 aremovably secured to the main pad assembly 2, in this embodiment byadhesive 12,13. The securing means may be of any suitable type, such asadhesive, heat or solvent sealing or'the like. In production, both facesof the corners 30,31 may be dipped into adhesive and inserted into thebox-pleat along axis T-T', thereby simultaneously securing the auxiliarypad and box pleat.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the auxiliary pad 3 has a first position 32,and a second position 33 (in phantom in FIG. 2). The first position isgenerally useful for a male infant, when the diaper is placed as shownin FIG. 3. This position is also the preferred position for a napping orsleeping infant regardless of sex, or for a young or chronicallyincontinent infant whose activity is primarily crawling or lying on thestomach. In the flipped, or second, position 33, the auxiliary pad isgenerally preferred for female infants, or infants of upright activity,as for older, walking or feeding activities. It likewise is useful forinfants regardless of sex afflicted with diarrhea or other such bowelconditions. Thus, the auxiliary pad may be flip-flopped about T-T' as anaxis from one position to another depending on the infant age, sex,activity or health condition.

The auxiliary pad is not restricted to being a separate envelope asshown in FIGS. l3, but may be any selectively positionable absorbent padmeans. For example, the auxiliary pad may be a looped or pleat-typeextension of the main pad shown in FIG. 4, an extension of the box pleator the like. As shown in FIG. 4, main pad 24 is pleated along thetransverse fold axis T-T to form upwardly extending auxiliary padassembly 3. Adhesive 12',l3 may be employed to secure the inner surfacesof the auxiliary padding 26 to form the pleat. The top sheet may also bepleated to form the envelope 27. The construction of the balance of thediaper assembly 1 is as above described for FIGS. 13. Arcuate arrows Cand D show the ability to selectively position the auxiliary padassembly from the first position 32 to the second position 33.

It should be understood that various modifications within the scope ofthis invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. I therefore wish my invention to bedefined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior artwill permit, and in view of this specification if need be.

I claim:

1. An improved diaper construction comprising in operative combination:

a. a main pad assembly having an absorbent pad and outer fluidimpervious backing sheet adapted to be removably secured to an infant,

b. means defining an auxiliary pad assembly movably secured inassociation with said main pad assembly,

c. said auxiliary pad means being selectively positionable between afirst, frontal position and a second, rear position depending on one ormore of the age, sex, activity or health of the infant, to dispose atthe point of need additional absorbent material.

2. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary padmeans comprises absorbent padding disposed in fluid permeable sheetmaterial.

3. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary padmeans is in the form of an envelope, portions of one end of which aremovably retained generally adjacent the crotch area of said diaper.

4. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said main padassembly is generally rectangular, having generally parallel sidemargins, each of said side margins having a pair of generally parallelfold lines spaced inwardly therefrom to define a box pleat.

5. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary padassembly is generally rectangular in shape, the corners of one end ofwhich are movably secured in the box pleat of main pad assembly in thegeneral area of the crotch.

6. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 5 wherein said securingcomprises adhesive means retaining both said box pleat and saidauxiliary pad in the crotch area.

7. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary padassembly is formed as an extension of said main pad.

8. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 7 wherein said extension is apleat in a central longitudinal section of said main pad.

9. An improved diaper as in claim 1 which includes an inner sheet oversaid absorbent pad of said main pad assembly.

10. An improved diaper as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said innersheet, said main absorbent pad, and said auxiliary pad assembly aretreated with materials selected from deodorants, medicaments,emollients, powders, salves, or mixtures thereof.

11. A disposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having afront surface and a back surface, auxiliary absorbent pad means havingone end secured adjacent the crotch region of the diaper on the frontsurface of said pad assembly and having a free second end, said padmeans being movable between positions on opposite sides of said crotchregion and overlying the front surface of said pad assembly.

12. The diaper as in claim 11 including a plurality of longitudinalfolds defining a box-pleat configuration of the diaper.

1. An improved diaper construction comprising in operative combination:a. a main pad assembly having an absorbent pad and outer fluidimpervious backing sheet adapted to be removably secured to an infant,b. means defining an auxiliary pad assembly movably secured inassociation with said main pad assembly, c. said auxiliary pad meansbeing selectively positionable between a first, frontal position and asecond, rear position depending on one or more of the age, sex, activityor health of the infant, to dispose at The point of need additionalabsorbent material.
 2. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 whereinsaid auxiliary pad means comprises absorbent padding disposed in fluidpermeable sheet material.
 3. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 2wherein said auxiliary pad means is in the form of an envelope, portionsof one end of which are movably retained generally adjacent the crotcharea of said diaper.
 4. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1wherein said main pad assembly is generally rectangular, havinggenerally parallel side margins, each of said side margins having a pairof generally parallel fold lines spaced inwardly therefrom to define abox pleat.
 5. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 4 wherein saidauxiliary pad assembly is generally rectangular in shape, the corners ofone end of which are movably secured in the box pleat of main padassembly in the general area of the crotch.
 6. An improved diaperassembly as in claim 5 wherein said securing comprises adhesive meansretaining both said box pleat and said auxiliary pad in the crotch area.7. An improved diaper assembly as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary padassembly is formed as an extension of said main pad.
 8. An improveddiaper assembly as in claim 7 wherein said extension is a pleat in acentral longitudinal section of said main pad.
 9. An improved diaper asin claim 1 which includes an inner sheet over said absorbent pad of saidmain pad assembly.
 10. An improved diaper as in claim 1 wherein at leastone of said inner sheet, said main absorbent pad, and said auxiliary padassembly are treated with materials selected from deodorants,medicaments, emollients, powders, salves, or mixtures thereof.
 11. Adisposable diaper, comprising: an absorbent pad assembly having a frontsurface and a back surface, auxiliary absorbent pad means having one endsecured adjacent the crotch region of the diaper on the front surface ofsaid pad assembly and having a free second end, said pad means beingmovable between positions on opposite sides of said crotch region andoverlying the front surface of said pad assembly.
 12. The diaper as inclaim 11 including a plurality of longitudinal folds defining abox-pleat configuration of the diaper.